Quick opening oil saver



Jan. 7, 1964 J, T, GQLDEN V 3,116.930

QUICK OPENING OIL SAVER Fig. 2.

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Jan. 7, 1964 J. T. GOLDEN 3,116,930

QUICK OPENING OIL SAVER Filed March 24. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. dof//y 7.' 6mm/Y.

United States Patent O 3,116,930 QUICK .OPENENG OIL SAVER John T. Golden, 505 W. Lindley Sit., Odessa, Tex. Filed Mar. 24, 1960, Ser. No. 17,425 1 claim. (C1. 277-66) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in oil savers for use on drill cable, rods and the like.

This invention is an improvement over the oil saver shown and described in my prior patent application Serial Number 825,505 led July 7, 1959, now abandoned.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an oil saver lwhich includes an improved follower and rubber construction, and wherein the oil saver of the present invention also includes an improved construction for the end plates.

lIt is another object of this invention to provide a quick opening oil saver which includes end plates which can be conveniently and readily moved to an open or closed position, as for example when the rubbers Abecome worn and are to be replaced.

It is another object of this invention to provide a quick opening oil saver which is simple and inexpensive and yet sturdy in construction.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose, there is shown a form in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the present specication. This form will now be described in detail, illustnating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of this invention is best defined by the appended claim.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of the oil saver of the present invention, with parts broken away and in section.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view, with parts broken taway in section and showing one of the end plates in extended or open position.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the oil saver with an end plate in extended position.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view illustrating a follower and rubber.

'Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the oil saver of the present invention which is shown to comprise a body member 11 that includes a pair of complemental similar sections 12. Each of the sections 12 has the same construction `and each includes a rectangular portion 13 which has a rectangular cavity or passageway 14 therein, FIGURE 3. The sections 12 are further provided with contiguous or adjacent flanges 15 that are fastened together as for example by means of securing elements such as the bolt and nut assembly 16. Threaded collars 17 are arranged on the upper and lower ends of the body member 11, and the numeral 18 indicates the usual drill cable which extends vertically through the oil saver. 1

Each Vof the rectangular portions 13 has a lip 19 thereon, and the lips 19 are each provided with a slot 20, and it will be noted that when the parts are assembled as shown in the drawings, the lip 19 on one section 12 is arranged diametrically opposite the lip 19 on the other section 12.

There is further provided securing elements 21 which extend through the slots 20, and each of lthe securing elements 21 is provided with an enlarged head on one end 22, while the other end of the securing element is threaded as at 23. Each securing element 21 is further provided with a threaded section 24 which is -spaced from the threaded end 23, and the portion 26 of the securing ele- ICC ment between the threads 24 and 23 is of reduced diameter. The numeral 25 indicates a stop member or nut which is arranged in threaded engagement with the threaded end 23, and there is further provided a movable nut or fastener 27, for a purpose to be later described.

There is provided for each section 12 an end plate which is indicated generally -by the numeral 28, and each of the end plates 28 is provided with an apertured projection 29 through which extends the securing element 2l.. Each end plate 28 is further provided with a bifurcated portion 30 which is arranged in opposed relation from the projection 29, FIGURE 3.

Formed integral with or secured to each of the rectangur portions 13 are upper and lower lugs 31 and 32. The upper lug 31 is provided with a slot 33, while the lower lug 32 is provided with a circular opening 34. The numeral 35 indicates `a T shaped hinge bolt or lock bolt, and the T shaped bolt 35 includes a vertically disposed portion 36 which extends through the slot 33 and through the opening 34. vThe T bolt 35 further includes a shank 37 which is arranged at right angles to the portion 36 and which is secured thereto or formed integral therewith, and the shank 37 is adapted to selectively project through the bifurcated portion 30 in the end plate 28, as for example -when the end plate is in closed position, as for example as shown in FIGURE 1. The shank 37 is provided with a threaded end 38, and a fastener or nut 39 is arranged in threaded engagement with the end 3,8.

Slidably mounted in each of the cavities 14 is a reversible follower 40, and there is provided a vertically disposed arcuate recess 41 in one longitudinal edge of the follower 4t). T'he other longitudinal edge of the `follower 40 is provided with a plurality of -spaced apart grooves 42, and as shown in FIGURE 4, for example, the grooves 42 are disposed transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the follower 40. Ihe grooves 42 are shaped to include rst sections 43 of 'a reduced size and these sections 43 terminate in enlarged sections 44. The numeral 4S indicates a rubber which is arranged contiguous to the follower 40, yand the rubber 48 is provided with tongues 45 which have the same general crosssection as the grooves 42. Thus, the tongues 45 include a first portion 46 and a second portion 47 which is of enlarged size for fitting in the enlarged portion 44 of the corresponding groove 42.

The inner edge of the rubber 43 is provided with a longitudinally :disposed recess or groove 49 for engaging the cable 18, as for example as shown in FIGURE 2.

The numeral 50 indicates a securing member kSuch as a cotter pin which is arranged in the lower end of the portion 36 of the bolt 35.

'llhere is further provided a manually operable means for adjusting the follows 40, and this means comprises screw members 51 which extend through the end plates 28, there being a handle 52 connected to the outer end of the screw member 51. The inner ends of the screw members 51 are connected tot the followers 40 as for example by means of securing elements 53.

yIt will therefore be seen that there has been provided an oil saver which is an improvement over the oil saver shown and described in my prior patent application Serial Number 825,505, filed July 7, 1959, now abandoned, and with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, it will be seen that the drill cable 18 is engaged by the inner recessed -portions 49 of the rub-bers 48. By manually turning the handles or levers 52, the screw members will be rotated, and since the screw members 51 are connected to the followers 40 by means of securing elements 53, it will be seen that this movement of the handle 52 will cause the followers 40 to slide or move in the cavities 14. Since the rubbers 48 lare `fastened to the followers 40,

there will be a corresponding movement of the rubbers 4S so that as the rubbers 4S become worn, they can be moved inwardly in order to maintain the proper pressure on the cable 18.

The followers 40 are provided on one edge with spaced apart grooves 42 which are adapted to receive therein the tongues 45 of the rubber 48 so that the rubber 48 will be maintained connected to the follower.

When the device is being used, the parts are in the position as shown in FIGURE l. Thus, it will be seen that as shown in FIGURE 1 the end plates 2S are contiguous to the ends of the portions 13 and the end plates 28 are maintained in this closed position by the previously described securing elements. Thus, the nut 39 and the nut 27 will co-act with their corresponding securing elements to maintain the end plates fastened or locked in closed position, and when it is desired to replace the worn rubber 48, these securing elements can be loosened as later described in this application so that an end plate 28 can be moved from the position shown in FIGURE l to the position in the right side of FIGURE 3 whereby access can be readily gained to the cavity 14 in order to permit the rubber and follower to be readily removed or replaced.

The followers may be operated either hydraulically or manually with the hand screws. In my prior patent application, or in other prior art devices, to remove the end plates, it was necessary to move the bolts or nuts completely and set them all aside someplace while the' user is changing the worn out rubber and replacing it with a new rubber, it being understood that there are two rubbers for each oil saver and they wear out about the same and both are replaced at the same time. Heretofore when changing the rubbers which is frequently necessary, the workmen have much diiiiculty in removing the end plates and trying not to drop and lose any of the bolts and nuts and it is to be noted that the workmen are usually standing on a large valve, fitting or the like and reaching up and this is inconvenient and according to the present invention it is only necessary to loosen several bolts and the end plates can then be moved outwardly as shown in the right side of FIGURE 3 and when the end plate is moved outwardly the hydraulic cylinder or the hand screw will remain intact so that it will not be necessary to watch after all of the loose parts. The oil saver of the present invention includes sections 12 which are of similar construction and which have similar parts associated therewith.

Referring further to the drawings, it will be seen that by loosening the nut 39, the bolt 35 may be swung aside from its original tight position as shown in FIGURE l, as for example to the position shown in FIGURE 3 so as to free the end plate which is to be moved. The end plate 28 has slotted ears or a bifurcated portion 30 for co-action with the upper and lower lugs 31 and 32. Also, the T-shaped bolt 35 can be removed by pulling the cotter key 50 and this is so that the bolt 35 can be removed and replaced in the event the threads thereon become damaged or worn whereby a new bolt 35 can be inserted. It is to be noted that with these steps, one side will be free and with reference to the other side, attention is directed to the bolt or securing element 21. It will be seen that by tightening the nut 27, the end plates 28 will be tightened, and this nut 27 can be moved along the undercut or reduced diameter portion 26 so that when the nut 27 is unscrewed from the portion 24, it can move along the smooth portion 26 until it moves against the stop nut 25 and this arrangement will insure that the end plate 2S will remain connected to the body member, as shown in the right side of FIGURE 3, but nevertheless the end plate 28 is free to pivot and move away from the end of the portion 13. The end plate, in its extended or outer position permits the follower to be removed or replaced in the cavity 14 and after the follower has been provided with a new rubber, the rubber and OHOWer are replaced in the cavity 14 and then the end plate 28 is returned to the position shown in the right side of FIG- URE 3 to a closed position, as for example as shown in FIGURE l and the hinge bolt 3,5 is moved back up into place so as to engage the bifurcated portion 30 and then the nut 39 is tightened and also the securing element 21 is tightened so as to bring the end plates tight against the end of the section 13.

The follower 40 is provided with grooves or dove tails 42 which engage similar dove tails 45 on the rubber 48 so that when the follower is moved the rubber will move therewith.

The follower is reversibie and it will be seen that one side is provided with the grooves 42 for accommodating the new style rubber 4S, while the other side is provided with the recess 41 for accommodating the old style rubber such as the rubber 30 shown in my prior patent application, so that the tongue on the rubber of my prior patent application can engage the recess 41 if desired. The follower 40 is made of a suitable material such as a suitable metal. Thus, the follower can be used for either the new style or old style rubber by unscrewing it from the hand screw 51 and turning it around.

The slot 20 provides freedom for sideways movement of the securing element 21. The slot 33 and the upper lug 31 permits the removal of the hinge bolt 35, as for example after the cotter key 50 has been removed. The tongue and groove means on the rubber and follower maintain the follower and rubber connected together so that the rubber can be retrieved, and they also help to stabilize and hold the rubber while swabbing to prevent the worn out rubber from doubling up and tending to follow the wireline out ofthe oil saver.

An important aspect of the present invention is the means by which the end plates are swung open and wherein it is not necessary to take the bolts and nuts and wherein the end plate will remain fastened to the body while changing rubbers. Thus, by loosening the nut on the hinge bolt, the hinge bolt can be swung around out of the way and also the retaining bolt 21 can be unscrewed and then the nut 27 will be on the undercut portion 26 so as to permit the workmen to pull the end plate 23 out several inches until the nut 27 contacts the nut 25, and then with the screw member or hand screw 51 back all the way out, the end plate, hand screw, and follower may be swung around out to the side and left hanging there while the operator changes the worn out rubber and replaces the same with a new one and then the parts can be swung back in working position and the bolt and nuts are tightened so that the oil saver is ready for another run.

The lower lug 32 is provided with the circular opening or hole 34 for the portion 36 of the hinge bolt to pass through, and the cotter key 50 on the lower end keeps the bolt from coming out. The top half or lug 31 is provided with the slot 33 which does not have a back to it so that the bolt 35 can be removed by removing the Cotter key and then swinging the bolt back and lifting it upward as for example when the bolt needs replacing from time to time.

With further reference to the end plate retaining bolt or securing element 21, it is to be noted that when the member 21 is unscrewed the distance such as a half-inch, the nut 27 will be on the undercut or smooth portion 26 and the nut 25 prevents the securing element 21 from being pulled ciear out, unless the nut 25 is unscrewed from the threaded end 23 and this provides suflicient end play so that the follower and worn out rubber can be gottenout of the body member. The oval shaped slot 20 provides suicient clearance for the securing element 21 to have the proper amount of sidewise action.

The follower 40 is reversible and the grooves 42 extend crossways or transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the follower for several reasons, one, when the rubber is put in, with the grooves 42 extending crosswise,

the rubber cannot drop out as would be the case if the grooves 42 were up and down instead of being horizontally disposed. Also, this arrangement shows that the old worn out rubber can be retrieved each time that the hand screw is backed out.

Heretofore when using previous styles of rubber, the rubber had a tendency to double up and roll out with the wire line or usually the rubber would pull itself in so tight as to become locked therein and with the provision of the tongue and grooves of the present invention, the rubber cannot tip over or follow the line since it will be stabilized and wherein all of the worn out rubber can be removed and replaced. Hydraulic cylinders such as those shown in my previous application and as indicated by the numeral 20 can be used in conjunction with the present invention if desired. The follower 40 is adapted to be attached to the inner end of the hand screw 51 by means of a cap screw 53.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the eld of invention claimed may be made and resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

What is claimed is:

In an oil saver, a body member including a pair of complemental similar sections, said sections each including a rectangular portion provided with a rectangular cavity therein, diarnetrically opposed lips on the outer ends of the said rectangular portions, and said lips being provided with slots therein, a securing element extending through each slot and each securing element having an enlarged head on one end and the other end of said securing element being threaded, there being a threaded section on said securing element which is spaced from said threaded end, the portion of the securing element between the threaded end and the threaded sections being of reduced diameter, a stop member on said threaded end, a fastener for engaging said threaded sections, an end plate provided with an apertured projection for receiving said securing element, a bifurcated portion on said end plate which is arranged in opposed relation with respect to said projection, upper and lower lugs aixed to said rectangular portions, said lower lug having a circular opening therein, therebeing a slot in said upper lug, a T shaped hinge bolt having a vertically disposed portion extending through said last named slot and opening, said T shaped bolt further including a shank for extending through the bifurcated portion of the end plate, said shank having a threaded end, and a fastener engaging said threaded end, a reversible follower slidably mounted in each of said cavities, there being a longitudinally extending vertically disposed arcuate recess in one edge of said follower, there being a plurality of open ended grooves in the other longitudinal side edge of said follower, each of said grooves having a circular bottom section and a neck section of a width less than the diameter of said bottom section, a rubber arranged contiguous to the inner edge of said follower, and provided with tongues for engagement with the grooves in said follower, said tongues having the same general cross section as said grooves and each of said tongues being insertable into and withdrawable from either of the open ends of the adjacent groove, a screw member extending through said end plate and connected to said follower, and a handle on the outer end of said screw member.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

